Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Alex009]

Hello! Please help...

I�m seeking advice regarding teaching English in Korea, Japan, or any country for that matter, while having a criminal record. I feel that I would be a wonderful and effective teacher, and I have all the right qualifications (BA in English, forthcoming TESOL, white male born in USA�).

I�m extremely motivated to teach English abroad, having just graduated and wanting to get out of the country and learn new cultures, and have spent hundreds of hours reading up about it all. I posted a Resume here a few days ago and got plenty of bites, yet I�m very hesitant to continue the hiring process with recruiters for fear of running into a wall when it gets to the point of a background check.

The problem is that I have a DUI charge from almost 2 years ago, and a drug paraphernalia charge on top of it. Both are paid for and served etc, and are part of my past. I am certainly not a sex offender or anything, though, which I�d imagine is really what schools care about. This is an issue that�s rather touchy, and it would be beneficial to have a definite resource.

I have scoured the internet and various forums including this one, read newspaper articles, and still haven�t found a definite answer. I�ve read that some people were denied an E-2, while others sailed through the process with similar charges. Some recruiters outright state �no criminal record,� others do not. Now that an E-2 application will require an FBI background check starting January, it�s an even bigger issue. I�ve read that China doesn�t require one, so this could be an option, yet my first choice is Korea as I�ve fallen in love with the country. Japan is a close 2nd choice.

So, a few questions. Anyone have experience with the issue of obtaining a Job/Visa despite a criminal record? Could I be hired, and get an E-2 visa, for teaching in Korea/Japan with criminal record such as mine? If not, what countries should I consider where it wouldn�t be an issue? (this is my MAIN question, as Korea really is sort of off the table for me)

Any other thoughts are greatly appreciated. Thanks for your help!

-Alex

[nathanrutledge]

Hmm, let's see if I can put this in the most delicate way possible...

NO! YOU CANNOT COME TO KOREA WITH A CRIMINAL RECORD, ESPECIALLY A DRUG CHARGE!!! HOW HAVE YOU DONE ANY RESEARCH ON THIS SUBJECT AND NOT FIGURED THIS OUT???

Hmm, no that doesn't seem delicate enough... I'll try and come up with something a bit more palatable and get back to you.

[imoscardotcom]

NO there is absolutely no way you would be able to get an E2 and teach in Korea. Not with that drug charge. Not even with just a DUI. Japan...I don't know. I guessing that would be a "no" as well, as they have super strict drug laws. I don't think China currently requires criminal background checks, but I am not positive.
But Korea? Nope, you'll never teach here.

[Alex009]

Thanks. I was simply asking for the sake of asking, I've read a few articles saying that's impossible to get an E-2 etc with such charges. Yet I've also read forum posts of people who've had no problem whatsoever. I'm over Korea for the most part.

I think I really just wanted to hear feedback on other countries that it wouldn't be an issue for me to get a job in.

[imoscardotcom]

Ecuador and Sudan don't check, last I heard. Cambodia maybe. And then China, maybe. Maybe similar/ or (some)neighboring countries are likely to let you in without a check.

[partymop]

Well, I'll do something shocking and reply to to a davesesl forum post without a snide, self-pious comment. You broke the law in your youth and I'm guessing your not a demented cannibal foaming at the mouth because of it. I do know people here who have gotten jobs with minor DUI charges, though it was tricky. My advice: be straight up with the recruiters about it because some are still willing to try for you (they want to get paid). Also, have you looked into getting your record expunged? I know people who have had it done for minor offenses and are teaching here now. Its not completely impossible, but it is difficult. good luck

[Skippy]

Good post (details and thought put into it) - bad situation. As mention above some people have been able to get jobs with DUI but it is the drug paraphernalia that will likely be the problem. You might be able to explain away the DUI and ask for forgiveness and understanding. But as soon as the immigration official sees the word DRUG they will go NEXT!

Do what partymop recommended try to see if you can get your record cleaned up.

Good Luck!

[winterfall]

A month or so ago, someone asked the same thing. He could've gotten an F-class visa, it's more flexible. But he had arson charges which already pretty bad. As you know DUI & Drug charges are a lot more serious. Sorry your out of luck, even back home it'll be hard to find a job with a record like that

If the market wasn't as over saturated as it is now, you would have a SLIM chance, maybe 15-20%. Depending on how desperate they were. But right now your odds are looking like -800%

[ttompatz]

People in the past have found ways to get around their criminal records (out of state checks, etc) and that has resulted in the current requirement for a national (FBI check).

The policy at immigration is to deny ANY and ALL E2 visa applications if there is ANY positive finding (meaning anything other than "no record or report" on the CRC.

To the OP:

If may be possible to get work in Japan (a CRC is NOT required by immigration unless you are applying for the JET program).

They also do NOT check in Indonesia, Malaysia, the middle east or many (most) places in the Americas (basically anything south of the Rio Grande).

They do check (with certifications required in some cases) in Taiwan, China (if your visa is applied for in North America), Vietnam and Thailand (if your visa is applied for in North America).

.

[Triple007]

Ttompatz-If the policy at immigration is to deny ANY and ALL E2 visa applications, how have some people been accepted before with DUI's on their record? I have heard SEOUL is a NO on DUI's but I have heard that other cities sometimes accept it.

[sentinel863]

dont stop tryin bro!

[ttompatz]

[richarde19]

Gday everyone. 41 year old here, English but now living in Australia.

I appreciate that some of you may think this topic has been done to death and seeing some of the responses I think I already have my answer, however, I have a single conviction for 'common assault'. For anyone that knows anything about this offence, its the absolute lowest of the lowest in any form of assualt and is actually substantiated even by swearing at somebody!!

I know this all too well because Im an ex-police officer of 10 years and this above conviction was enough for me to say goodbye to the Police Service (walked not pushed). I was a police officer in both the UK and WA (Australia) and the latter has destroyed by desire to carry on serving.

Anyway...........................to my point, I also have a Business Degree from 1999 and now would like to utilise that by teaching in an Asian country. South Korea would be my first choice but I can see that I may have to be a little more flixible. The one plus card I have for South Korea is that my girlfriend is from South Korea and so if push came to shove surely I could get a spouse visa, move over there and thus eradicate the need for the english teaching visa as discussed in the previous posts. Ideally I'd like to get to know her a little better first and also settle into the country and new employment before making such a long term fixed committment of marriage.

Any thoughts and guidance would be greatly appreciated guys.

[ttompatz]

No chance of an E2.

No chance of a public school job.

Get married and an F2 visa and you can get work in a language academy (hagwan).

Look at other countries in Asia where a check isn't required.

.

[drydell]